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Bent had a low hard shot from some distance that went narrowly past the post, so far as I recall this was their best shot of the match. Rob was kicked again. Pires to Cesc whose shot was deflected for a corner. Pires takes and a header was deflected for another. A good run and cross by McFadden down their left flank. Lauren intercepted well and went on a run, we won a free kick wide on our right where Reyes set himself up to bend a high one in. It was a peach; Sol leaped high and headed home with power. 1-0 to the Arsenal after just eleven minutes. Our second goal from a corner in two games – has John Radford been doing some coaching following the old boy’s parade? For what it’s worth the countdown clock said 231 days 1 hour 29 minutes and 54 seconds.
Gilberto flattened Osman. Arsenal were looking a yard faster than Everton as we piled on the pressure with some slick knockabout football. The uglier Neville hoofed upfield but he was up against blitzkrieg football at it’s best. Arteta axed Cesc from behind – no card. Neville and Reyes were at it. It was all one way traffic as an elbow from Ferrari stopped Freddie on a run. Neville then kicked Rob in the guts while he was on the ground and Everton graciously threw the ball back to us following treatment to Pires. At this stage we were performing in our nearly but not quite mode. A great counter started with Gilberto winning a heavy tackle with the ugly twat, Reyes stormed forward and Van Persie’s right footed shot crashed against the post. The corner was wrongly given but miraculously Wiley spotted some pushing against Arsenal when the ball came in, thus atoning for his cock up.
Yobo shoved Robin in the back, not seen. Cahill fouled Cesc. Rob limped out of the action having been roughed up by the Ugly twat and he was replaced by Hleb. Osman tried to remove Reyes legs and Reyes took the free kick, another peachy ball in which Campbell heads down into the corner of the net. 2-0 Arsenal. Arsenal are scoring from dead ball plays – shock horror exclusive.
Weir shoved Van Persie in the back before Arteta elbowed Cesc in the face, unseen by authority. Ferrari fouled van Persie and received a short speech from Wiley. Cahill grabs Freddie by the throat then tramples over him. Neville complain about the way Freddie isn’t even strangled honest ref ‘Neville, Neville what’s the score’. Reyes fires another ball in for Sol but it is just beyond his head. Hleb taken out after his pass was completed. Hleb then sets up Freddie and Robin who can’t quite chew up the Toffees. Cahill took out Reyes and his free kick was headed down and and wide, I’m not sure who by. Osman hauled down Hleb. Kolo on a great charge upfield, it’s played wide to Freddie whose cross was almost back heeled in by the advancing Kolo. Neville in high on Van Persie whose ability to high jump evaded both injury and contact. A very popular booking however against Mr Ugly. Bent then grabs Reyes by the neck, there were just so many fouls that half of their team should have been in the book – but Wiley meandered around the field missing so much.
Every subsequent free kick and corner saw Campbell being held down and manhandled, he was actually spun around in the air once – but did we get a penalty? No – did we even get a sniff at a penalty – No. Half time and barring a miracle or some seriously bizarre refereeing there can only be one winner.
As a nearly full moon loomed over the West Stand Reyes had a extreme range shot (blocked) from the kick off as he realised Martyn was well off his line. Everton had a free kick wide left but Cesc headed clear. Immaculate as ever Cesc tired late on. Gilberto was outstanding in midfield but everywhere else on the pitch we just blew Everton away with class and pace. The possession statistics, at a guess, were about 80/20 but we lacked a killing edge. Ferrari late on Reyes. Hibbert tripped Reyes on a run and at last another yellow card appeared. Osman had a shot that was well wide. Lehmann had had nothing to do all game. Van Persie sat Hibbert on his arse in their box, but then tried to bend a difficult shot with the outside of his boot, it lacked power. Hleb and Cole then took their defence apart but Cole’s cross just flashed across the face of goal with no one steaming in to convert it.
Freddie set up Jose whose shot was held by Martyn at the second attempt. Osman dived following a 50/50 challenge with Sol but not even Wiley bought that one. Wiley by the way had changed kit at half time, after the break he appeared in a green shirt, black shorts, white stick and was aided by a guide dog. Jens was called upon to punch clear and at their end Cole set up Reyes who fizzed a rising shot over the bar. Robin showed some great touches and found Reyes. Hleb showed some great skills to set up Van Persie but his shot was saved. We were pressing well and closing space effectively. A rare Everton shot, this one from Osman, was straight at Jens. Reyes who quite obviously had had enough of being kicked all game went in late on the Ugly fecker and got himself a yellow card. Treatment was required for Mr Ugly which was accompanied by a rousing chorus of ‘Jose Antonio’.
Dennis was roared onto the pitch as he replaced his fellow countryman. Cahill was replaced by a big, tall, noxious Scottish creature, it may have been Nessie but I'm not certain. Arteta took out Hleb but still didn’t aquire his long overdue yellow card. A freekick against Everton for handball looked harsh. Reyes took it and once again Yobo was rugby tackling Campbell as he attempted to challenge for the header. In the mayhem in and around their box, Freddie smacked it against the bar with an effort that deserved better. Great skill by Gilberto, you almost forget he’s Brazilian don’t you?
Freddie was still battling away but in truth I think we’d settled for the win by now and were not quite so rampant. Cole sets up Reyes who tried to kill a punter in row Z of the North Bank. Arteta tripped Reyes and at last Wiley strode over and gave him….. some advise. Arteta then took Cesc out and there was still no fecking card, you will of course recall that Cesc got booked for his first, and I do believe only foul of the game, yet his fellow Spaniard got away with murder all match. We now had no forward on the pitch capable of heading the ball so we tried to walk it in instead, as Everton still kept at least seven men back.
A great diagonal ball from Lauren to Cole, who set up Dennis but he shot well over. Kilbane replaced the knackered Bent. Freddie got in a very decent cross but no one appeared for Arsenal at the far post. Arteta was replaced by Davies, who was greeted with a predictable if offensive chant. Alexander Song came on to replace Reyes and there was nearly a ‘We’ve only got one Song’ chant – he looked big and strong, but a tad nervous. Hibbert tackled Hleb from behind and was allowed to play on. Hibbert finally got a card for axing Freddie yet again.
So we picked up three points, scored from some dead ball plays and looked very much in control throughout the kicking they tried to give us. Fortunately only Rob was kicked off the park, the others survived – which was no thanks at all to Wiley, or his dog.